Customer Reviews

Toilets of the World

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Although the title (Toilets of the World) may not grab you, it is one of the more interesting little travel books I've seen in some time. The photos are terrific and the information is invaluable. If you are planning an overseas trip and want to experience the true local flavors, you should consult this book so as to avoid what could be some unpleasant culture shock before you get there. Remember the 'Seinfeld' episode where Geroge would not use a bathroom during the trip to India? This book will help you understand why he had a problem with that. This book also contains some terrific snapshots of worldwide culture that my high school students find fascinating - an impetus for them to take a closer look at the different areas of the world.

This books is worth it for the pictures alone. It will bring back memories for anyone who has every encounterd a toilet that they just weren't sure how to use.

for anyone interested in architecture this gives a great overview of a much overlooked subject--the toilet. educational as well as humorous.

I heard it once said that a useful rule of thumb in determining how clean is the kitchen of any particular restaurant is to check out its toilet. The reasoning goes that if the facility is particular about the condition of the "dirtiest" room, it will certainly maintain high standards for its kitchen. This makes sense to me, but not having entered many restaurant kitchens I am not sure how valid this assumption may be. I have, however, used many toilets in restaurants, hotels and other public places, and almost never have I come across two that are exactly alike. Most of them are nothing to write home about, many I have successfully purged out of my memory, but there have been a few that truly stick out. Entering an opulent toilet room in a luxurious Vegas or Hawaii resort can make you feel like you are actually staying there. Toilets are definitely not to be underestimated, and "Toilets of the World" brings some of the most fascinating ones to our attention.

The authors of this beautiful small book have taken pains to collect images of toilet from almost every corner of the World. The book contains images and descriptions of toilets from every continent and all sorts of settings - urban, rural, beachside, deep woods, high mountains, etc. The pictures of the toilets are as fascinating and intriguing as the ones found in any travel or architecture book. The short snippets or stories that accompany them are informative and educational. It is really interesting how much we can learn about culture or history of a given place by studying its toilets. For instance, the segregated South African toilet is an especially poignant reminder of the basic inhumanity of Apartheid. Making a distinction between human beings even when it came down to the most basic bodily functions is as clear of an indication of the fundamental perversion of that system as they come.

This is an entertaining and informative book that is very tastefully put together. It will provide you with a new appreciation for one of the least glamourous and yet most important of all rooms.

This book was purchased as a humorous gift for a family member, but I am seriously considering purchasing another copy for myself and displaying it prominently on my bookshelf. It is fascinating to me to see how other cultures differ from ours in this most basic function. The photos are great as well. I've never thought of toilets as artistic before, but this book may have changed my opinion.

I am a self-confessed toiletbagger. I enjoy travelling to new places and checking out the facilities. This book piqued my interest and I awaited the arrival at my home. I was not disappointed. Appropriately placed in the "reading room" I enjoyed leafing through the pages and encountering some familiar scenes. There are some interesting tidbits about international personalities, common cultural treatments of one of the few unifying aspects of human existence and outright amazing feats of plumbing wizardry. I have a trip to London planned and will be taking the addresses of several facilities along in hopes of experiencing them firsthand.

A little bit of history, a whole lot of fun! Color photos and descriptions of the (sometimes) porcelain pots are arranged geographically, generally by continent. From a thatched palm leave toilet on stilts in Panama which drains directly into the sea to a "pee tree" in an Alberta, Canada campsite to the pair of 24-carat solid gold toilets in a Hong Kong store, this book brings them all to you. Check out the kiddie loos from Izmir, Turkey on pages 214-215: a cute, purple kangaroo toilet and a turquoise smiling bear urinal. A delightful book!

My husband is a retired plumber. I bought this as a retirement gift and he has it in his bathroom, (Where else?)and I often hear him chuckling. Full of interesting facts, beautiful pictures (if you're a plumber). A great gift.

For the Potty Humor possibilities alone, this book is worth ten times the money. Share it with friends or as a white elephant gift (though you'll want a copy to keep for yourself!). Don't bother claiming that you have it solely for scholarly reasons...

Although this book is ALSO truly fascinating! Beside each great photo is an entertaining blurb about that specific site and local culture. You'll learn a lot that you never knew you were missing.

Informative, enlightening and fun. There is a point when you'll say,"I'd like to see that", and you never thought you'd ever say that about a toilet. Any book that can do that is worth a read, maybe even while you're on the throne.